Federal Legislative Updates

The House Bipartisan Heroin Task Force Holds Roundtable on Heroin and Synthetic Drug AbuseFebruary 6, 2017 [Source: C-Span]
The House Bipartisan Heroin Task Force held a roundtable to hear from physicians and public health advocates about heroin and synthetic drug abuse. Topics covered how these drugs affect the brain, communication between doctors and families on treatment plans for drug abusers, the need for alternative pain medicine, and the potency of synthetic drugs.To watch...

Opioids Package Passed with "Cures" BillDecember 7, 2016 [Source: AMA Wire] The Senate today completed consideration of the "21st Century Cures Act," approving the bill by a vote of 94 to 5. The House last week passed the bill 392 to 26.Full story...To view bill...

Senator Markey Seeks Information about Impact of Opioids on WomenJuly 8, 2016 [Senator: Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)]
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking about the agency's effort to track the impact of opioid drugs on women. Several federal initiatives have been developed to better understand how different subpopulations respond to drugs. The Senator's letter seeks to identify whether these federal initiatives have been adequately enforced, and if any conclusions specific to women can be drawn from clinical opioid drug trials. Full story...

AAPM Supports the MEDS Act Legislation:Schatz, Hatch, Tillis, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to make it Easier for Researchers to Study the Medical Value of MarijuanaJune 20, 2016 [Source: U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)]
Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) will introduce the Marijuana Effective Drug Studies (MEDS) Act of 2016, bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for researchers to study the medical effectiveness and safety of marijuana. Similar legislation is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Andy Harris (R-Md.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), H. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), and Sam Farr (D-Calif.).Full story...To view the bill...

Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Opioid Use among SeniorsApril 12, 2016 [Source: JAMA]
Abstract: Nearly 30% of Medicare Part D enrollees used prescription opioids in 2014, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) official told the Senate Special Committee on Aging at a recent hearing on issues and emerging trends in opioid use among seniors.Full story...

H.R.4641 - To provide for the establishment of an inter-agency task force to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and for other purposesFebruary 26, 2016 [Source: 114th Congress (2015-2016)Full story...

What Are the State Governments Doing to Combat the Opioid Abuse Epidemic?May 21, 2015 [Source: House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee]Full story...

#SubOversight Continues Hearing Series to Review Prescription Drug & Opioid AbuseMay 1, 2015 [Source: Energy and Commerce Committee]
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), today continued its hearing series examining the growing problem of prescription drug and opioid abuse. Members discussed the issue with federal officials to learn what they are doing to combat the epidemic and explore how federal policies can better support efforts to develop new and promising treatments.Full story...

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